The story of Pompeii did not end in 79 AD. For centuries, while the Roman city lay buried beneath the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius, people continued to live among its ruins, keeping its memory alive. This remarkable narrative is now emerging, thanks to a series of new discoveries in the Insula Meridionalis the southern sector of ancient Pompeii.
In fact, pottery and other artifacts dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries provide fresh evidence of human presence at the site centuries before the Bourbon-era excavations began in 1748.
This revelation challenges the conventional perception of Pompeii: on one hand, a Roman settlement frozen in time by the eruption of 79 AD; on the other, the “modern” Pompeii, brought back to light some seventeen centuries later. Yet, between these two, lies a far more complex and nuanced history.
“The Pompeii After Pompeii”
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, explains: “The docudrama Pompeii: The Last Hours featuring Tom Hiddleston along with the work of archaeologist Steven Tuck, demonstrates how the theme of the survivors is finally taking center stage in both academic research and public-facing projects.”
In the aftermath of the volcanic eruption, Pompeii must have resembled a post-apocalyptic landscape. And yet, according to new research, it was not entirely deserted; traces have been found of individuals who returned, as well as communities that continued to utilize the area. Yet, this was a highly precarious existence far removed from the grandeur of the official narrative. As Zuchtriegel points out, “These are the faint traces of unstable lives led in the shadows of official history” which explains why they remained largely hidden from view for so long.
The artifacts discovered at Insula Meridionalis add another link to this story. The unearthed pottery and other materials point to the site being in use during the Renaissance centuries before Pompeii rose to prominence once again through formal excavations.
And so, the Renaissance enters the story of Pompeii
This period is particularly intriguing for another reason: it was around this same time that a depiction of the Deposition of Christ attributed to Andrea Mantegna was created; it was recently rediscovered at the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin in Pompeii.
While the two occurrences are not directly linked and belong to distinct historical threads, they both reveal an important truth: Pompeii was never entirely erased from collective memory.
“Without in any way diminishing the contributions of figures like the Spanish researcher Roque Joaquín de Alcubierre who initiated the first archaeological excavations at Pompeii in 1748 we must acknowledge that a local population remained in Pompeii from the very day after the volcanic eruption, preserving the memory of the site,” says Zuchtriegel. A City That Was Never Truly Forgotten
Even a seemingly simple detail reinforces this hypothesis: the name “Civita” which, according to the park director, serves as evidence that the memory of the buried settlement has persisted locally.
The farmers and shepherds who lived among the ancient ruins lacked the vocabulary of modern archaeology to describe this heritage. However, Zuchtriegel emphasizes that this does not mean the memory was absent.
This shifts the perspective: Pompeii is not a city that was “reborn” from oblivion in the 18th century; rather, it is a place that in various forms remained a part of the local community’s life and imagination.
“Pompeii is, and has always been, a true ‘heritage community,'” says Zuchtriegel. Consequently, its name is not merely the result of an archaeological revival, but a testament to a memory that endured in the region for centuries.
The story of “Pompeii after Pompeii” remains largely untold. In this context, small artifacts unearthed from the ground may prove to be the most vital clues in piecing that story together.
Visiting the Excavation Site
Visitors can tour the Insula Meridionalis excavation site, accompanied by the archaeologists and conservators working there. These tours are available Monday through Friday, between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, by appointment only. For information and bookings, please call 327 2716666.
